THE DERIVATIVE ANDDIFFERENTIATION
OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
OBJECTIVES:
•to define the derivative of a function
•to find the derivative of a function by
increment method (4-step rule)
•to identify the different rules of differentiation
and distinguish one from the other;
•prove the different rules of differentiation using
the increment method;
•find the derivative of an algebraic function using
the basic rules of differentiation; and
•extend these basic rules to other “complex”
algebraic functions.
2.
Derivative of aFunction
The process of finding the derivative of a
function is called differentiation and the
branch of calculus that deals with this
process is called differential calculus.
Differentiation is an important mathematical
tool in physics, mechanics, economics and
many other disciplines that involve change
and motion.
3.
Consider a pointon the curve
that is distinct from and
compute the slope of the secant line
through P and Q.
))
(
,
( 2
2 x
f
x
Q
),
(x
f
y )),
x
(
f
,
x
(
P 1
1
PQ
m
x
x
f
x
f
mPQ
)
(
)
( 1
2
:
where 1
2 x
x
x
x
x
x
1
2
and
x
x
f
x
x
f
mPQ
)
(
)
( 1
1
4.
If we letx2 approach x1, then the point Q
will move along the curve and approach
point P. As point Q approaches P, the value
of Δx approaches zero and the secant line
through P and Q approaches a limiting
position, then we will consider that position
to be the position of the tangent line at P.
5.
)
(x
f
y
))
(
,
( 1
1x
f
x
P ))
(
,
( 2
2 x
f
x
Q
x
x
x
x
x
x
1
2
1
2
y
tangent line
secant line
x
y
6.
Thus, we makethe following definition.
DEFINITION:
Suppose that x1 is in the domain of the function
f, the tangent line to the curve y=f(x) at the point
P(x1,f(x1)) is the line with equation,
)
(
)
( 1
1 x
x
m
x
f
y
where provided
the limit exists, and is the point
of tangency.
))
(
,
( 1
1 x
f
x
P
x
)
x
(
f
)
x
x
(
f
lim
m 1
1
0
x
7.
DEFINITION
The derivative ofy = f(x) at point P on the
curve is equal to the slope of the tangent line at
P, thus the derivative of the function f given by
y= f(x) with respect to x at any x in its domain is
defined as:
0 0
( ) ( )
lim lim
x x
dy y f x x f x
dx x x
provided the limit exists.
8.
Other notations forthe derivative of a function are:
)
(
),
(
'
,
'
,
'
),
(
, x
f
dx
d
and
x
f
f
y
x
f
D
y
D x
x
Note:
To find the slope of the tangent line to the curve at point
P means that we are to find the value of the derivative at
that point P.
There are two ways of finding the derivative of a
function:
1.By using the increment method or the four-step rule
2.By using the differentiation formulas
9.
THE INCREMENT METHODOR THE FOUR-STEP RULE
One method of determining the derivative of
a function is the increment method or more
commonly known as the four-step rule.
The procedure is as follows:
STEP 1: Substitute x + Δx for x and
y + Δy for y in y = f(x)
STEP 2: Subtract y = f(x) from the result of
step 1 to obtain Δy in terms of x
and Δx
10.
STEP 3: Divideboth sides of step 2 by Δx.
STEP 4: Find the limit of step 3 as Δx
approaches 0.
x
2
1
1
x
2
y
given
rule
step
four
the
g
sin
u
dx
dy
Find
.
2
EXAMPLE
)
x
x
(
2
1
1
)
x
x
(
2
y
y
.
a
)
x
2
1
x
2
x
2
1
x
2
x
2
1
x
x
4
x
4
x
2
x
2
x
x
4
x
4
1
x
2
x
2
y
)
x
2
1
x
2
x
2
1
x
2
x
2
1
1
x
2
x
2
1
1
x
2
x
2
y
x
2
1
1
x
2
)
x
x
(
2
1
1
)
x
x
(
2
y
.
b
2
2
)
x
2
1
)(
x
2
x
2
1
(
x
x
4
x
y
.
c
)
x
2
1
)(
x
2
x
2
1
(
4
lim
x
y
lim
.
d
0
x
0
x
2
)
x
2
1
(
4
dx
dy
13.
10
x
when
1
x
y
given
rule
step
four
the
g
sin
u
dx
dy
Find
.
3
EXAMPLE
1
x
x
y
y
.
a
1
x
1
x
x
y
b.
6
1
)
3
(
2
1
1
10
2
1
dx
dy
10,
x
when
x
1
x
1
x
x
x
y
.
c
1
x
2
1
dx
dy
1
x
1
x
x
1
lim
x
y
lim
1
x
1
x
x
x
x
lim
1
x
1
x
x
x
1
x
1
x
x
lim
1
x
1
x
x
1
x
1
x
x
x
1
x
1
x
x
lim
x
y
lim
d.
0
x
0
x
0
x
0
x
0
x
0
x
DERIVATIVE USING FORMULAS
Theincrement-method (four-step rule) of
finding the derivative of a function gives us the
basic procedures of differentiation. However
these rules are laborious and tedious when the
functions to be differentiated are “complex”,
that is, functions with large exponents,
functions with fractional exponents and other
rational functions
16.
Understanding of thetheorems of
differentiation is very important. This is the
heart of differential calculus. All of the
succeeding topics such as applications of
derivatives, differentiation of transcendental
functions etc. will be dependent on these
theorems. Understanding of these theorems
will enable us to calculate derivatives more
efficiently and will make calculus easy and
enjoyable.
17.
DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS
Derivative ofa Constant
Theorem: The derivative of a constant function
is 0; that is, if c is any real number,
then,
0
]
[
c
dx
d
DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS
Derivatives ofPower Functions
Theorem: ( Power Rule) If n is a positive integer,
then, 1
]
[
n
n
nx
x
dx
d
In words, to differentiate a power
function, decrease the constant exponent
by one and multiply the resulting power
function by the original exponent.
DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS
Derivative ofa Constant Times a Function
Theorem: ( Constant Multiple Rule) If f is a
differentiable function at x and
c is any real number, then cf is
also differentiable at x and
)
(
)
( x
f
dx
d
c
x
cf
dx
d
In words, the derivative of a constant
times a function is the constant times the
derivative of the function, if this derivative
exists.
x
x
2
x
2
x
2
x
2
dx
dy
r
4
r
3
3
4
(r)
F'
x
5
2
5
dx
dy
r
3
4
F(r)
4.
x
5
y
.
2
x
36
x
36
(x)
f'
x
40
'
y
x
4
-
9
(x)
f'
x
8
5
'
y
x
9
f(x)
3.
x
5
y
.
1
functions
following
the
ate
Differenti
:
Example
5 2
5 3
5
3
5
5
5
2
2
2
1
5
2
3
5
2
5
5
7
1
4
7
4
8
24.
DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS
Derivatives ofSums or Differences
Theorem: ( Sum or Difference Rule) If f and g are
both differentiable functions at x, then so
are f + g and f – g, and
In words, the derivative of a sum or of a
difference equals the sum or difference of
their derivatives, if these derivatives exist.
g
dx
d
f
dx
d
g
f
dx
d
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
( x
g
dx
d
x
f
dx
d
x
g
x
f
dx
d
or
r
4
r
2
-
(r)
F'
x
2
15
-
4
-
4x
-
x
24
dx
dy
r
3
3
4
r
2
-
(r)
F'
x
2
15
-
4
-
4x
-
x
24
dx
dy
r
3
4
r
F(r)
4.
9
x
5
4x
x
2
x
6
y
.
2
9
x
8
-
(x)
f'
1
x
3
5x
4
y'
9
x
8
(x)
f'
4
x
12
x
20
'
y
4
x
9
x
2
f(x)
3.
7
4x
x
6
x
5
y
.
1
functions
following
the
ate
Differenti
:
Example
2
3
2
1
5
2
3
-
2
1
5
3
2
2
3
2
4
5
3
5
3
4
2
4
27.
DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS
In wordsthe derivative of a product of two
functions is the first function times the derivative
of the second plus the second function times the
derivative of the first, if these derivatives exist.
Derivative of a Product
Theorem: (The Product Rule) If f and g are both
differentiable functions at x, then so is the
product f ● g, and
dx
df
g
dx
dg
f
g
f
dx
d
)
(
)
(
)]
(
[
)
(
)
(
)
( x
f
dx
d
x
g
x
g
dx
d
x
f
x
g
x
f
dx
d
or
2
15x
-8x
y'
6x
-
15x
2
-2x
y'
3x
2x
-
5
2
-
1
x
'
y
2x
-
5
1
x
y
.
2
9
-
32x
36x
'
y
9
-
12x
32x
24x
'
y
3
3
x
4
x
8
4
x
3
'
y
3
x
4
4
x
3
y
.
1
.
simplify
and
functions
following
the
ate
Differenti
:
Example
2
3
3
2
3
2
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
30.
4
x
3
8x
5
y'
20
-
x
15
x
40
y'
x
15
x
30
x
10
-20
y'
x
3
5
x
10
10
x
2
y'
5
x
10
x
2
y
.
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
3
2
3
3
31.
DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS
or
Derivative ofa Quotient
Theorem: (The Quotient Rule) If f and g are both
differentiable functions at x, and if g(x) ≠ 0
then f/g is differentiable at x and
2
g
dx
dg
f
dx
df
g
g
f
dx
d
2
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
x
g
x
g
dx
d
x
f
x
f
dx
d
x
g
x
g
x
f
dx
d
32.
In words, thederivative of a quotient of
two functions is the fraction whose
numerator is the denominator times the
derivative of the numerator minus the
numerator times the derivative of the
denominator and whose denominator is
the square of the given denominator
Note:
The proof is left for the students .
33.
x
2
1
3
x
4
x
4
2
'
y
x
2
1
6
x
8
x
8
'
y
x
2
1
6
x
8
x
16
x
8
'
y
x
2
1
2
3
x
4
x
8
x
2
1
'
y
x
2
1
3
x
4
y
.
1
.
simplify
and
functions
following
the
ate
Differenti
:
Example
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
34.
DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS
Derivatives ofComposition
Theorem: (The Chain Rule) If g is differentiable at
x and if f is differentiable at g(x), then the
composition f ◦ g is differentiable at x.
Moreover, if y=f(g(x)) and u=g(x) then y=f(u)
and
dx
du
nu
dx
u
d
or
dx
du
du
dy
dx
dy
1
n
n
35.
5
x
4
1
3x
11
-
24x
4
y
15
-
12x
4
12x
5
x
4
1
3x
4
y
3
5
x
4
4
1
3x
5
x
4
1
3x
4
y
5
x
4
1
3x
y
.
3
1
x
125
3
1
x
5
1
-
x
5
3
(x)
G'
1
-
x
5
G(x)
.
2
10
-
6x
15
x
10
3x
5
y'
15
x
10
3x
y
1.
.
simplify
and
functions
following
the
ate
Differenti
:
Example
3
3
3
4
4
2
2
3
4
2
5
2
36.
DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS
Derivative ofa Radical with index equal to 2
If u is a differentiable function of x, then
u
dx
du
u
dx
d
2
The derivative of a radical whose index
is two, is a fraction whose numerator is
the derivative of the radicand, and whose
denominator is twice the given radical, if
the derivative exists.
37.
DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAS
Derivative ofa Radical with index other than
2
If n is any positive integer and u is a
differentiable function of x, then
The derivative of the nth root of a given
function is the exponent multiplied by the
product of u whose power is diminished by
one and the derivative of u, if this derivative
exists.
dx
du
u
n
u
dx
d n
n
1
1
1
1
38.
14
x
4
5
x
4
x
2
5
1
'
y
10
x
2
4
x
2
5
x
4
x
2
5
1
'
y
2
5
x
1
4
x
2
5
x
4
x
2
5
1
'
y
5
x
4
x
2
y
5
x
4
x
2
y
.
2
5
x
3
2
5
x
3
3
5
x
3
5
x
3
5
x
3
2
3
x
H'
5
x
3
x
H
.
1
.
simplify
and
following
the
ate
Differenti
5
4
5
4
1
5
1
5
1
5
39.
5
4
5
4
5
4
5
x
4
x
2
5
7
x
2
2
'
y
14
x
4
5
x
4
x
2
5
1
'
y
10
x
2
4
x
2
5
x
4
x
2
5
1
'
y
II. Find thederivative of the following functions
using the four-step rule.
EXERCISES
dr
dS
find
,
4
t
3
3
t
2
S
Given
.
4
dr
dV
find
,
r
3
4
V
Given
.
3
dr
dA
find
,
r
A
Given
.
2
dt
ds
find
,
2
t
s
Given
.
1
3
2
42.
III. Evaluate thederivative of the following functions
using the four-step rule with the indicated value
of x.
EXERCISES
3
3
4
x
when
1
x
y
.
5
5
x
when
3
x
2
1
x
y
.
4
a
x
when
x
a
2
a
y
.
3
.
6
x
when
3
-
x
2
-
x
y
.
2
.
8
x
when
2x
1
y
.
1
0
)
x
(
'
f
which
for
x
of
values
the
find
,
x
3
x
)
x
(
f
If
.
6 2
3